2010: 5 Things You Didn't Know

With the dawn of a new year and a new decade right around the corner, the debate is underway over one of the most important issues facing us, the future denizens of 2010: No, it's not global warming, not over-population, it's not even terrorism; it's how in the hell should we pronounce it? Should we say: "2,000-10" or "20-10?" Robert Siegel recently asked this question on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," and the issue kicked up more dust than one might imagine, considering the other more serious problems we face.

While you decide which option you think sounds better (in our opinion "20-10" has an undeniable cache), we present five things you didn't know about 2010.

1- Scotland eyes independence in 2010

The first thing you didn't know about 2010 is what it might mean to the good people of Scotland.

About 90 years ago, the sun never set on the United Kingdom of Great Britain; it represented the largest kingdom by land mass in world history — well, not anymore. Things can only get worse for the Crown in 2010. After over 300 years, it seems Scotland has finally grown tired of toiling under the iron yoke of its English overlords: A voter referendum tentatively scheduled for late 2010 will place the idea of full independence from the Crown before the Scottish people.

The Scottish government doesn't actually have the constitutional authority to declare its own independence from the British Parliament. Yet, while a simple referendum favoring independence carries no legal weight, it could bear significant political influence and give Scottish leaders a necessary opening volley.

2- Oktoberfest turns 200 in 2010

Two hundred years ago in October of 1810, the people of Bavaria got together for an extended celebration of the marriage of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The party lasted about five days.

Two centuries on, and Bavaria still celebrates; but, these days Oktoberfest begins in late September, the royal connection is all but ignored and, instead of just attracting the locals, the party attracts crowds from across the world. Nowadays, as many as six million people attend Oktoberfest every year, eating over 521,000 chickens, 58,000 pork knuckles, and washing it all down with the equivalent of over 14 million hearty pints of the best beer Germany has to offer.

We have a few more things you didn't know about 2010 coming right up...